Frequently Asked Ebook
Questions
Ebooks are one
of the most popular products on the Internet. Not only are they easy to create,
but they also provide your customers with instant gratification.
Over the years, I have received many questions about ebooks and have written
many articles on the subject. However, there still seems to be some confusion
as to how an ebook is created and formatted.
Below are some of the most frequently asked ebook questions.
Question: I have a manuscript in DOC format
that I would like to convert into ebook format. Can you tell me what format
I should use?
Answer: If you already have your ebook in
DOC format, you'll most likely want to convert your manuscript into PDF
format.
Adobe® Portable Document Format (PDF) is a universal format that will
preserve all of your original formatting. Not only will it maintain your
specified layout, but it will also preserve your fonts, images and links
-- regardless of what application was used to create it. This will enable
your ebook to look exactly as you had intended.
Adobe Acrobat 5.0
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html
Although PDF formatted ebooks are a bit limiting on creativity, as far as
the look and feel of your ebook, PDF ebooks can be viewed by everyone --
regardless of what browser they're using or what operating system.
The best ebook format for your project will really depend on your own preference.
However, it is also important to take into consideration the type of ebook
you're creating and the number of pages it will contain. For example, if
you've written a manuscript with hundreds of pages and have it typed into
your word processing program, you won't want to waste your time creating
an HTML page for each page of your ebook. Your best option will be to purchase
Adobe Acrobat and compile your ebook into the PDF format. HTML compiled ebooks
are better for smaller projects such as 'how-to,' 'instructional' or
'informational' ebooks.
Another consideration
of great importance is your sales plan. If you're planning on selling your
ebook on one of the ebook publishing sites, many of them will only accept
ebooks in the PDF format. A good way to cover all of your bases is to simply
publish your ebook in both formats. Let your customers decide which format
they would prefer.
Question: I've downloaded a lot of ebooks
with the EXE extension and would like to create one. But I'm confused as
to how exactly to do it. Can you help?
Answer: EXE formatted ebooks are actually
just web pages compiled into a program. If you can create a web page, then
you can create an EXE ebook.
When designing an EXE formatted ebook, you must create an HTML document (web
page) for each page within your ebook. Just as you need to include navigational
links within your web pages, you must also include them within each page
of your ebook.
Once you've designed your pages, you'll need to purchase a software program
to compress them into the EXE format. You can find some compiler options
here:
http://www.web-source.net/ebook_publishing3.htm
Question: I'm creating an ebook to use as
a marketing tool. I've downloaded a number of ebooks that allowed me to customize
certain fields with my company name, web address and affiliate ID. Can you
tell me how this is done?
Answer: In order to create an ebook that
can be customized, you must first purchase an HTML ebook compiler that offers
this option. Keep in mind, not all compilers do. There are only two that
I can recommend and they are:
eBook Starter (I have to recommend my own software;) )
http://www.eBookStarter.com
Ebook Edit Pro
http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/web/jump.cgi?ID=2894
Both of these compilers will enable you to create customizable fields.
Question: I've created an ebook, but am confused
as to how to allow my customers to pay for it. And how do I deliver my ebook
once they've paid for it?
Answer: If you're doing business online,
you must have the ability to accept credit cards. You can either get your
own merchant account, or use a third party payment processor.
You can find a number of options here:
http://www.web-source.net/ebook_publishing7.htm
As for delivering your ebook to your customers, most payment processors will
enable you to include a web address that your customers will be directed
to upon completing their purchase. This web page should be used to enable
your customers to download your ebook.
Your page should include all of the following:
• Should match your sales page
• Thank your customer for their purchase
• Provide information as to how much they were charged
and what name will appear on their statement
• Provide download instructions
• Provide a clickable download link
• Provide an email address for support requests
For a complete overview of ebooks, you may read the article series entitled,
"Ebooks: Self-Publishing Your Way to Internet Success."
http://www.web-source.net/ebook_publishing1.htm
Publishing an ebook isn't as difficult as you may think. Take your time and
educate yourself prior to selecting the right format for your project. It
will be well worth the extra effort in the long run.
Copyright © Shelley
Lowery
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed web design course, Web Design
Mastery.
http://www.webdesignmastery.com
And, Ebook Starter - Give Your Ebooks the look and feel of a REAL book.
http://www.ebookstarter.com
Visit Web-Source.net to sign up for a complimentary subscription to Etips
and receive a copy of the acclaimed ebook, "Killer Internet Marketing
Strategies."
http://www.web-source.net
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,
in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author
bylines are included.
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